The Congregation of the Children of Mary, whose primary purpose was the spiritual formation of the students of the Religious of the Sacred Heart, was first formed in Amiens in 1816, in the Paris school in 1820. In 1832, since the rule of cloister prevented the religious from leaving their convents, Mother Barat organized a group of former students in Lyons to perform work of service, especially for the poor and needy. From these roots grew sodalities, or religious fellowships, for the various levels of students: the infant Jesus Sodality for the lower school, the Sodality of St. Aloysius for the middle school and the Sodality of the Holy Angels for the high school. The Children of Mary became the sodality to which students in their last year of high school and in college aspired. The initials E.deM., which a member wrote after her name, stood for the French Enfant de Marie.

While the aims of such religious fellowships are met in different ways today, in some Sacred Heart Schools members of the former sodalities still gather for days of prayer and reflection. See this page for more details.

Congé is an in-school holiday in most Sacred Heart schools. On these special days, classes are cancelled in favor of a”free day.” The word conge means “leave” and often means holiday. A tradition begun by St. Madeleine Sophie, congés come when they are least expected, since the planning for them is often done in secret

Cor Unum is shorthand for Cor unum in Anima Unum in Corde Jesus which translates from the Latin to mean: One Heart and One Soul/Mind in the heart of Jesus. This phrase expresses the deep desire of St. Madeleine Sophie Barat, that the members of the Society of the Sacred Heart be closely united in the Heart of Jesus. The Society’s internationality is the fruit of Sophie’s hope and generations of RSCJ remaining faithful to her vision.

Feast Wishes, an historically important tradition, today is an all-school gathering before the Christmas holiday during which students present the gifts of music and cards to every member of the administration, faculty and staff.

Independent schools are non-profit private schools that are independent in philosophy: each is driven by a unique mission. They are also independent in the way they are managed and financed: each is governed by an independent board of trustees and each is primarily supported through tuition payments and charitable contributions. They are accountable to their communities and are accredited by state-approved accrediting bodies. For more information visit the National Association of Independent Schools.

The International Passport is a small card that identifies the holder as a member of the worldwide Sacred Heart community. It is usually given by the head of school at the end of the school year to members of the graduating class.

A gathering of students and their teachers, Primes traditionally was the moment during which students received cards indicating assessment of their conduct from the previous week. A card imprinted Très Bien signified “very good” in behavior; a card with Bien meant “good;” a card with Assez Bien meant “good enough,” or rather “not good enough.” Today, Primes, sometimes called Assembly focus on students’ growth as learners.

The Society of the Sacred Heart is structured into provinces which are geographic regions. The leader of this designated region is the provincial. She works with a group of sisters named the Provincial Team. A provincial is appointed by the superior general after consultation of the members of the province. The provincial appoints the provincial team is appointed by the provincial and, together with her, offers guidance for the spiritual, apostolic, and professional direction of the members of the province.

Appointed by the Provincial Team, who remains ultimately responsible for the implementation of the Society’s mission in the Schools of the Network, SHCOG provides a system of accountability for mission as expressed in the Goals and Criteria. The membership of SHCOG consists of the Head of the Conference of Sacred Heart Education, ex officio, the Head of SHCOG and representatives from the following areas of the school: trustees, heads, middle managers, and faculty. SHCOG is accountable to the Provincial Team.

Sprout Creek Farm is a working farm in Poughkeepsie, NY run by the Society of the Sacred Heart and visited by various grades for field trips, exchanges, and summer enrichment. See this page for more details.

List of 2 news stories.

Our celebration of Philippine comes to a close this Sunday at the Celebration of the Feast of Saint Rose Philippine Duchesne and the Bicentennial Closing Mass in St. Louis will take place on Sunday, November 18 at 2:30 p.m. (CST). We are sharing this liturgy via live stream so our Sacred Heart family around the world may join in the celebration! A recording also will be available for 24 hours after the completion of the liturgy, on the same webpage.

We thank all who have made the Bicentennial year so rich with prayer and learning, with exploration and truth-telling, with new understanding and new relationships, with publications and holy cards, with sculpture and Flat Philippines. Special Thanks to Kathleen Hughes, RSCJ and Bicentennial Committee for their creative energetic leadership of our celebration. The International Service Day, the class plans and the many activities across the Network proved to be an ideal way to make Philippine and the mission of the Society better known throughout the world! Thank you.

New Year’s Day

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Schools of the Sacred Heart share in the educational mission of the Society of the Sacred Heart as articulated in the Goals and Criteria. The structure supporting Sacred Heart education in Canada and the United States includes the Conference of Sacred Heart Education and the Network of Sacred Heart Schools. Together they provide services and programs to ensure vitality of mission for the member schools sponsored by the Society of the Sacred Heart.